[IknoBall12Participant]

According to yahoo sports Marcus smart is returning to Ok state. Idk how to post a link but if somebody can help it would be appreciated. I can’t believe it the guy was going to be a top 5 pick. Quality kid!

[llperez]

I’m sure he is a quality guy. But I by no means judge anybody for leaving early or staying regardless if they are top 5 or not. Some people are more interested in making a career out of basketball and getting paid for playing and that’s totally fine.

[Sewok15Participant]

It might not be the smartest move in terms of being a top 5 lock and returning but you can’t hold it against the guy. Certain players like Tim Duncan stayed all four years knowing he would go #1 and he ended up pretty good. Marcus really needs to work on his outside shot. He has great potential and maybe he feels he should learn to dominate in college before he goes pro. I think this could help his career if he comes into the NBA more fundamentally prepared.

[r377Participant]

Most ppl had him going to Orlando, I wonder who the magic will target now ?

[Taylor Gang MikeParticipant]

Hes a different kid tho, his bestfriend is on the OK st team, Ford.. Plus he can always get better… He woulda been top 5-7 but o well… Great for Ray Macallum and Pierre Jackson tho

[DolanCareParticipant]

I respect Smart just because he will be losing millions of dollars with this move. Next year OK ST will not be able to compete with Duke, Kentucky, Arizona, UNC, Florida, Michigan State, Louisville- I could go on. He’ll probably miss the lottery, and be a mid first rounder. GM will like his leadership, maturity and selflessness, but he just isn’t as skilled as some of the incoming prospects.

[qDizzle32Participant]

Not saying this could hurt his draft status at all but he was a lock to be a Top 5 pick this year and I think this could end up being similar to when Harrison Barnes made the decision to stay in 2011. Barnes would have gone 2nd or 3rd in the 2011 but was picked 7th in 2012. It wasn’t that Harrison hurt his draft status, he actually played better his Sophomore season it’s just that the 2012 class was a lot better than 2011. You can’t guarantee any high school player to be Top 5 lock for the next year which I learned after being very high on Shabazz last year, but as of right now the chances look like Wiggins, Parker and Randle will be Top 5 picks. Plus there could be a breakout player coming out of nowhere who can end up being Top 5 picks (T-Rob and McLemore for two examples). Marcus Smart could very well go lower than he would have this year even if he has a better season next year. The higher you get drafted the more money you get on your rookie contract but this was Marcus Smart’s decision.

[drk3351Participant]

Trey Burke may have just moved up a 3-5 spots with this news.

[raybeasParticipant]

Wille Warren himself.

[WinterSoldierParticipant]

It’s very likely thats what will happen. Maybe he doesn’t care about the NBA and has other life aspirations.

[SiggyParticipant]

Can someone explain to me why he was a top 5 lock?
Only 1 full yr of PG experience in his LIFE. Showed questionable decision making both turning the ball over at high rate and displaying bad shot selection. He’s not a good shooter. Solid passer, but is not a dynamic playmaker. He doesn’t have a good handle for a point. Does not have a great first step. Is not an explosive athlete.
After evaluating his game, I respect his decision to go back. He has a lot to work on and wants to get better before he makes the next step. I wish more players had that perspective as opposed to the typical “capitalizing = smart, forgoing money = dumb.” The REAL money is made in the 2nd and subsequent contracts, not the first.

[WinterSoldierParticipant]

Players drafted higher in the lottery 1-5 (on average) make much more in there second contracts than players that get drafted lower lottery. I’m curious why you believe it’s easier to develop skills in college as opposed to the pros?

[SiggyParticipant]

That’s because players drafted top 5 generally deserve to be taken that high. I don’t think that applies to a draft like this where players are backing into a high slot or are being projected as taken that high by default.
I’m not saying that players develop faster in college, but if Marcus’ goal is to become a better player so that he can be more of an impact player sooner at the next level rather than later, then this decision will accomplish that. The college game is a different animal and it FORCES players to improve on fundamental aspects of the game, more so than the NBA game IMO because of the defensive tactics.

Him returning says a number of things about him: that he doesn’t think he’s ready (which I agree wholeheartedly), that he believes that he can come back and improve and that his priorities are different. Maybe… I know its a crazy concept, but maybe he wants to accomplish something at this level first.

[WinterSoldierParticipant]

Thats fair. For a development stand point I agree with you. I also agree with you that he doesn’t have the skills of a top 5 or a natural PG. For me I see a lot of players expose there weakness more often than become better players. If he was in trey burkes situation last year than it’s a no brainer to stay in school and develop. I guess it’s one of risks thats hard for me to watch these young players do. I thought it was a mistake for Sullinger, and Perry Jones also because as a freshman you get artifical credit for potential. I know there is more to life than the NBA but if thats the career he wants I believe he is making a fiscal misstake. I also know it’s better for NBA teams(big business) if these kids stay to see if they are worth there investment. I have always had a natural bias against big business, which is why I wish these kids go pro. Also I read a article (which I can’t find right now) That said NBA teams put way more money and resources into developing top 5 picks. So while all the reasons you said are valid these are the reasons I almost always hope these player leave early.

[surveParticipant]

arent Nash and Brown coming back? if so, they will have an awfully good team next year. getting bumped out early I am sure was a major disappointment for Smart…and he didnt play well. that may have really bothered him, because he seems like a winner. I am sure he wants to work on some things, but his main motivation could simply be to take Ok St to the Final Four and possibly win a POY award. I dont think he was a top 5 lock. Lottery yes, but top 5 lock, no.

[aamir543Participant]

Willie Warren was a tragedy, he would’ve been picked by the Warriors or Bucks in place of Curry or Jennings, went back to school, and now he’s out of the league.

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

Marcus Smart should go now, I understand he may want to go back to get better or whatever the case may be, but what if he gets injured really bad….remember Kalin Lucas?

What if he just doesn’t get any better and his stock drops??? Alot of what if’s this may be the highest his stock will be…as he was a top 3 lock this year, next year Wiggins,Randle, Vonleh and Parker will def be higher prospects coming out, so he’s already going into 2014 draft going lower than he would this year unless he has a MONSTER year.

But it won’t be easy as teams in his conference or teams around the country period already know his game and how to play him, and scouts now know what’s his strengths and will only look for holes in his game, he should stay in this years draft.

[GoJOSH HUESTISParticipant]

Russell Westbrook didnt look like a pg in his first or second year of college. Jru holiday didn’t either. Both are doing pretty well at pg now. Sart is a winner, hard worker, great size, good athlete and good defender. Doubt that he will hurt his stock

[FastAndFuriousParticipant]

It’s not about his stock getting hurt, his going to go lower next year regardless of what he does more than likely.

Do you think he’s going to go over…Parker,Wiggins or Randle? And who knows what player might blow up next year and be tossed in front of him, his stock is the highest it will be right now, not saying he can’t be a top 10 pick, but right now this may be the only year he’s a SOLID top 3 pick.

[BiggysmallsParticipant]

Look at it this way, get drafted by a garbage team in the top 3…where you will rot away a better part of your career, or spend another year in school, improve your playmaking/pg skills while playing on a sweet 16/elite 8 team, and get drafted between 6 and 15 to a team that may be significantly better and with a chance at actually not sucking forever. Its a win win for him.

[lalailaParticipant]

now that’s shows some strong character

he definitely knows he might be lower pick even if he improves and he takes that challenge..

Will we see some triple double from him next year?preaseason POY?

[alingeParticipant]

With Lebryan Nash and Markel Brown returning and Marcus Smart returning I have a feeling Okalhoma State may break Kansas’ streak of Big 12 titles and have a shot at a national title.

[UsernameParticipant]

I remember last year some guy asked Marcus where he sees himself 5 years from that day, and Marcus said “Hopefully starting my coaching career” or something like that, nothing about the NBA. I hope I’m not lying but I’m pretty sure I remember him also saying he was going to stay 4 years at OKstate, so while I expected him to turn pro, I can’t really say that I’m surprised he didn’t.

[MattHoopsParticipant]

Wow.. This makes a weak draft even weaker. Smart was actually my favorite player in this draft. He had the most potential.. This will prob be the year the T-Wolves win the lottery.

[NJHooper95Participant]

He will probably not be a top 10 pick next season, but I think he realizes that he needs to the develop and that the NBA is not a good place to try and learn, that why so many players struggle in the league. In college you have more coaching and more individual development time with coaches.

[IknoBall12Participant]

Russ Westbrook wasn’t a pG at all coming out of UcLA and yet he was picked early so the whole no pg excuse is no reason to joy draft a player. Next years draft just got so much more loaded tho sheesh

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